Thats the real! I see it all day here in the “corporate” world. It’s sickening to tell you the truth. It’s rare these days to innovate, create, and produce quality products. Sales guys want what’s HOT, too many young designers filling cubes, and everyone wants to be COOL! The big brands want to be as cool as the little brands and the little ones want to become the big brands, when will they realize to just be themselves? No identities. I’ve been strugglin with this for a minute. Glad you see it too. Peace. Happy new year.
Corporations from the outside seem like faceless machines out with the only intent in mind to maximize shareholder returns but that isn’t entirely true. The same type of industrial engineer or designer that works at the smaller shops also works in the larger shop. Using this example, if you worked on the Nike side and this was your project, why wouldn’t you add premium materials? It provides a better product to the customer.I am sure the person that worked on this is stoked about the changes they made to the product. Heck its been pretty much unchanged for close to 10+ years. We can say that there is a cycle of rip off and duplicate, but design isn’t created in a vacuum. Everything that we create is a reflection upon our previous experiences. The same thing can be said for the smaller shops in this case, I can’t think of a sneaker designer that can say that Nike hasn’t had an influence on their designs (good or bad).
This cycle of evolutionary changes leads to better products, as average ideas become substandard and better ones take their place. Its hard to see innovation in small evolutionary changes but they exist, sometimes we have to view the iterations at almost atomic levels to see them. (iPod)
I think innovation being relevant in the end comes down to the consumer choice (unfortunately), and to be honest the consumer doesn’t always choose the best product. Two examples of this could be the fact that we almost all continue to use mp3s when compression schemes like ogg vorbis exist and are much better. The other example is the choice of xbox360 over the technically advanced PS3. Personally, I look at items I think are innovative and see how long it will take for people to catch on, the Air Maxim is a perfect example. Under the guise of a familiar shape, many are unknowingly advancing the standard.
For all the blatant/verbatim knockoffs/reinterpretations that have been coming out for over 5 years now, you bring this example up? Its really hard to see how Nike took a direct inspiration from that Clae style. Nike has done every color/fabric/upper/sole combo known to man. Clae did not invent the combo of Nylon and Leather. The panels are not even cut similarly. The only unique detail is the elastic at the ankle of the Clae, if Nike would have copied that you might have a point.
Might I add all the knockoffs have been by streetwear companies. Where was this article years ago when Alife decided to start a shoe company based on verbatim versions of dunks, clarks, vision streewears, vans, etc..
-when Bape decided to start a shoe company based on verbatim versions of Af1s.. and now Red wings etc..
-when Greedy Genius knocked off AF1s, Jordans, etc..
-when The Hundreds, Supreme, Mishka, 10 Deep, Crooks, Hellz, Rocksmith, Staple, Mighty Healthy, King Stampede, AG knocked off every: luxury brand, 90′s brand, Skate brand, Polo, Jeremy Scott, Dead Pop Artists, every rap lyric, band album covers/logos, so on and so on and so on…
You would not dare mention any of them in that context because you would actually have to face them afterwards. Jeff Staple colors up a pair of dunks and you guys call him a design genius. While the schmuck who designed and engineered the actual Air max is irrelevant to you guys cuz hes doesnt swim in your small pond.
ALL the knocking off has been by small companies stealing designs from big corps, and justifying it by calling it an artistic spin, reappropriation, or props for just knowing the cultural relevance behind the item they copied. Big corps would never attempt to this in the slightest because they way too much to lose legally.
Thats the real! I see it all day here in the “corporate” world. It’s sickening to tell you the truth. It’s rare these days to innovate, create, and produce quality products. Sales guys want what’s HOT, too many young designers filling cubes, and everyone wants to be COOL! The big brands want to be as cool as the little brands and the little ones want to become the big brands, when will they realize to just be themselves? No identities. I’ve been strugglin with this for a minute. Glad you see it too. Peace. Happy new year.
The cycle continues. Supply and demand. Monies as reward. Designers and consumers are interlocked. One affects the other.
You are correct intelligent debate is becoming extinct, it will be replaced by 160 characters or less sms messages.
Corporations from the outside seem like faceless machines out with the only intent in mind to maximize shareholder returns but that isn’t entirely true. The same type of industrial engineer or designer that works at the smaller shops also works in the larger shop. Using this example, if you worked on the Nike side and this was your project, why wouldn’t you add premium materials? It provides a better product to the customer.I am sure the person that worked on this is stoked about the changes they made to the product. Heck its been pretty much unchanged for close to 10+ years. We can say that there is a cycle of rip off and duplicate, but design isn’t created in a vacuum. Everything that we create is a reflection upon our previous experiences. The same thing can be said for the smaller shops in this case, I can’t think of a sneaker designer that can say that Nike hasn’t had an influence on their designs (good or bad).
This cycle of evolutionary changes leads to better products, as average ideas become substandard and better ones take their place. Its hard to see innovation in small evolutionary changes but they exist, sometimes we have to view the iterations at almost atomic levels to see them. (iPod)
I think innovation being relevant in the end comes down to the consumer choice (unfortunately), and to be honest the consumer doesn’t always choose the best product. Two examples of this could be the fact that we almost all continue to use mp3s when compression schemes like ogg vorbis exist and are much better. The other example is the choice of xbox360 over the technically advanced PS3. Personally, I look at items I think are innovative and see how long it will take for people to catch on, the Air Maxim is a perfect example. Under the guise of a familiar shape, many are unknowingly advancing the standard.
For all the blatant/verbatim knockoffs/reinterpretations that have been coming out for over 5 years now, you bring this example up? Its really hard to see how Nike took a direct inspiration from that Clae style. Nike has done every color/fabric/upper/sole combo known to man. Clae did not invent the combo of Nylon and Leather. The panels are not even cut similarly. The only unique detail is the elastic at the ankle of the Clae, if Nike would have copied that you might have a point.
Might I add all the knockoffs have been by streetwear companies. Where was this article years ago when Alife decided to start a shoe company based on verbatim versions of dunks, clarks, vision streewears, vans, etc..
-when Bape decided to start a shoe company based on verbatim versions of Af1s.. and now Red wings etc..
-when Greedy Genius knocked off AF1s, Jordans, etc..
-when The Hundreds, Supreme, Mishka, 10 Deep, Crooks, Hellz, Rocksmith, Staple, Mighty Healthy, King Stampede, AG knocked off every: luxury brand, 90′s brand, Skate brand, Polo, Jeremy Scott, Dead Pop Artists, every rap lyric, band album covers/logos, so on and so on and so on…
You would not dare mention any of them in that context because you would actually have to face them afterwards. Jeff Staple colors up a pair of dunks and you guys call him a design genius. While the schmuck who designed and engineered the actual Air max is irrelevant to you guys cuz hes doesnt swim in your small pond.
ALL the knocking off has been by small companies stealing designs from big corps, and justifying it by calling it an artistic spin, reappropriation, or props for just knowing the cultural relevance behind the item they copied. Big corps would never attempt to this in the slightest because they way too much to lose legally.